Ranjit Thakur
JAMMU, May 9: Heightened tension between India and Pakistan has cast a shadow over sporting activities in Jammu, with many athletes staying away from stadiums due to safety concerns following Pakistan’s massive attack on multiple Indian cities, including Jammu.
The usually vibrant sports complexes in the city, including MA Stadium, KK Hakku Stadium, Mini Stadium Parade, and others, wore a deserted look on Thursday and Friday. Fear and uncertainty have kept hundreds of young sportspersons away from their regular training sessions, impacting preparations for upcoming tournaments.
“Due to the prevailing situation since the past two days, we are unable to practice in the stadium. This is a crucial time for us as we were preparing for national-level championships in the coming months. Every day is precious,” said national-level skater Adhira Kanotra. “We are hopeful that the situation will improve soon so that we can return to practice.”
Another athlete, Dhwani Nanda, echoed similar concerns. “We used to practice regularly at the skating rink in MA Stadium, but due to escalated tensions, we are unable to go out. The fear is real, but the situation is beyond our control. We’re just waiting for things to get better.”
Suraj Bhan Singh, Manager of the Indoor Complex at MA Stadium, confirmed a complete halt in training activities. “On regular days, we have over 500 players coming for practice in various sports. But for the last two days, the stadium has been completely empty. Only officials, coaches, and ground staff are present.”
Divisional Sports Officer Jammu, Baljinder Pal Singh stated that while no official restrictions have been imposed, players have voluntarily stayed away. “All sections, including gymnastics, Wushu, judo, boxing, badminton and others, are functional. But after yesterday’s attack, attendance has dropped drastically. On Thursday, we saw minimal turnout, and today not a single athlete came. We have over 1,000 registered athletes across disciplines.”
Sports infrastructure across the region has been affected, with major venues like Shastri Nagar Stadium and Green Field Ground also reporting zero attendance.
As Jammu continues to remain on edge, the absence of its young athletes from the fields highlights a quieter, often overlooked impact of conflict – the disruption of dreams in the making.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended for a week with immediate effect due to the escalating military tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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